Incontinence diapers for adults

Description of the invention

The present invention relates to a disposable adult diaper.

Such diapers are known from EP 0 000 969 B1. Also, from US 4,209,016 a diaper with detachable connection elements divided or divisible is known. In addition to the tape located near the hip line, which has the primary function of fastening the diaper, a second tape is provided below the first tape, which allows for additional tensioning forces and ensures good adhesion of the diaper to the wearer's body.

Furthermore, such a diaper is known from PCT International Application No. WO 00/37005 with at least three detachable connection elements arranged on both sides.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved disposable adult diaper which is better suited to the actual loads occurring in the areas of detachable connections under different running conditions.

According to the invention, this object is realized in that each link farther away from the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper and the contact surface cooperating therewith are made such that - when the diaper is fastened - the releasable connection of these elements is released with greater force than the releasable connection of the fastener located in the diaper. closer to the transverse hip edge of the diaper and its mating contact surface.

In real movement conditions - especially in the case of an adult diaper, both for those who move independently and for those who prone and require care - greater loads are placed on the detachable connection elements distant from the transverse iliac edge than the elements close to this edge. These loads are in the form of breakaway forces acting in the plane of the detachable connection. Such a state of affairs has been found by the inventor during many tests and measurements in various operational conditions, using stretched measuring strips placed between the detachable connection elements distant from the transverse iliac edge and between the connection elements close to this edge.

During the development of adult diapers, due to the measurement results obtained, the high loads occurring in the area of ​​detachable connections were taken into account. This often led to excessive wear of the materials from which the detachable connection elements were made in the form of tapes or strips with mechanically or glue-adhesive coatings.

A disposable adult diaper, having a front part, a rear part and a middle part located between them in the longitudinal direction in the area of ​​the user's crotch, and mechanical or adhesive detachable connection elements, in side areas, especially in areas adjacent to the longitudinal side the edge of the back or front part and cooperating when fastening the diaper, with respective contact surfaces of the front part or the rear part, each side area or area adjacent to the longitudinal side edge having at least two detachable connection elements spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the diaper, according to the invention it is characterized in that the more distal fastener is from the transverse hip edge, constituting an element of a detachable connection with the contact surface cooperating with it, it has a larger adhesive active surface than the connector closer to the hip edge, which is an element of the detachable connection with the contact surface mating with it. The adhesive active surface of the connector farther away from the iliac edge is preferably at least 1.2 times, but preferably at most 2.0 times as large as the adhesive active surface of the connector proximal to the iliac edge.

It is preferred that the adhesive active surface of the connector farther away from the iliac edge be at least 1.2 times greater, but preferably not greater than 1.6 times, most preferably not greater than 1.5 times the adhesive active surface of the connector proximal to the iliac edge.

This means that the assembly of the detachable connection elements is adapted to the maximum loads, especially in the area of ​​the connections distant from the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper, while in the area of ​​the detachable connections close to this edge, a weaker connection of the connector with the adjoining contact surface may be maintained. This solution turned out to be the most optimal in terms of ecology, while ensuring economically optimal consumption of materials.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the dimension of the adhesive active surface of the connector farther away from the hip edge of the diaper in the direction of its longitudinal axis is greater than

The dimension of the adhesive active surface of the connector proximal to the hip edge in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper is PL 193 313B1. In such a case, tapes or strips or other fasteners with an adhesive or mechanically adhesive active surface with different dimensions in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper and their dimensions in the transverse direction are used to make the connector distant from the hip edge and the connector closer to this edge. the axis may be the same.

In the solution according to the present invention, it is unnecessary to separately qualify the detachable connection elements themselves, mainly in the form of tapes or strips, which bear the actual loads. These detachable connection elements are usually suitable for absorbing the tensile forces that arise under various running conditions. However, the most important is the contact surface of the connector with the contact surface cooperating with it. There is a concern that in certain operational conditions the detachable connection may become disconnected. The solution according to the invention and the presented arrangement of the detachable connection elements significantly improve the quality of the disposable diaper for adults, in particular increase the resistance to loads occurring in real traffic conditions, at the same time ensuring economically optimal consumption of materials.

Due to the fact that the connector further away from the hip edge has a larger active surface than the connector located closer to the hip edge, an increase in the adhesion of the detachable connection elements distant from the transverse edge of the hip diaper is achieved. If in such a case the dimensions of the connector or the dimensions of its adhesive active surface are the same as the dimensions of the contact surface cooperating with it, and both elements of the connection are made of the same adhesive material in the form of "Velcro" or the same adhesive tape, then - due to the larger adhesive active surface - the connector further away from the hip edge of the diaper has a greater connection force than the connector located closer to this edge.

The interface cooperating with the fastener may be the rear surface of the layered material of the diaper, for example a foil layer of a diaper, which forms an interface which is not particularly specific. It is also possible that each interface for each fastener is formed of a single area or of several areas of material, for example in the form of "Velcro" or a smooth material constituting an element of the adhesive connection. In particular, the contact surfaces of the upper and lower fasteners on each side part of the diaper may be formed as a common contact plane. Alternatively, the contact surface may extend in the direction of the transverse axis from one side portion to the opposite side portion of the diaper, allowing the fasteners to be repositioned along the wearer's hip line to provide the appropriate desired pressure of the diaper against the patient's body.

In another embodiment, the size of the adhesive active surface of the connector in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper is, within the manufacturing tolerances, the same as the dimension of the connector also in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper. For example, the adhesive tape (which then, for example, in a transverse arrangement with respect to the diaper, runs along it) may be provided with an adhesive coating extending over the entire width of the adhesive tape.

The dimension of the connector farther away from the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper in the direction of its longitudinal axis is preferably greater than that of the connector proximal to the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper in the direction of its longitudinal axis.

The size of the adhesive active surface of the connector farther away from the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper in the direction of its transverse axis may be, within manufacturing tolerances, the same as that of the adhesive active surface of the connector proximal to the transverse edge of the diaper in the direction of its transverse axis. The dimension of each fastener in the direction of the transverse axis of the diaper should preferably be the same for the aesthetic appearance of the hygiene product.

Preferably, the connector farther away from the transverse hip edge has a dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper from 24mm to 55mm, most preferably 30mm to 40mm, while the connector closer to the transverse hip edge has a dimension in the same direction from 20mm to 35mm, most preferably 20mm. up to 30 mm.

Further preferably, the distance of the fastener proximate the transverse hip edge to the transverse hip edge in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper is 10 mm to 50 mm, and the distance between the fasteners in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the diaper is 70 mm to 150 mm.

In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the connectors and the contact surfaces cooperating with them are so designed that the strength of the detachable connection of the connector farthest from

The PL 193 313B1 of the transverse hip edge of the diaper and its mating contact surface, measured as the maximum shear during a fastener peel test, shall be at least 45 N. The term "shear force" means that the coupler and the mating surface substrate mounted in the clamps of the tensile test apparatus discussed below are separated from each other in a plane at 0 ° to the connection plane (when measuring the release force, the coupler is pulled back at an angle of approximately 180 °). ° in such a way that it is gradually torn off). During the measurement of the maximum shear force in question, the connector is suddenly separated from the contact surface, simulated with a suitable sleeper, after the peel force required for this is achieved.

The said peel force of the fastener farthest away from the transverse edge of the hip of the diaper from the contact surface cooperating therewith is at most 105 N, in particular 55 N to 95 N.

Accordingly, the peel force to disengage the connection between the connector proximal to the transverse iliac edge and its mating contact surface, measured as the maximum shear force when attempting to peel the fastener from the contact surface, is at least 38 N, preferably not more than 60 N, and most preferably from 40 N to 55 N.

Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention are elucidated in the appended claims, in the drawing and in the following description of general diaper load measurements, and in the description of the measuring system for determining the peel force. All the characteristics of the invention according to the claims are protected independently, also irrespective of their being relied upon by other claims.

The diaper according to the invention is illustrated in an exemplary embodiment in the attached drawing, in which fig. 1 shows the forces occurring in the diaper fasteners during squatting and walking in two different patients, Fig. 2 shows the forces in the diaper fasteners for different modes of movement and many different patients, Fig. 3 is a diagram of an unfolded diaper in a view from above, and Fig. 4 shows a device and measuring system for determining the maximum tearing force of the fasteners from the contact surface.

Figures 1 and 2 show the values ​​of the tensile force in the connecting areas of the diaper under different movement conditions for an adult user. The research was conducted courtesy of two people. For this purpose, tall and heavy people were selected, with a different type of build, namely stout or thin. In addition, various physical conditions were selected. In the first case, it was a simulation carried out for people moving independently, for example when walking and squatting. Moreover, both the stronger and the weaker connection of the detachable connection elements of the diaper has been considered. The high pressure force of the diaper was also distinguished and had a pressure force of the diaper against the body of the user, which may be caused by vigorously or only firmly fastening the diaper and may be changed by the appropriate positioning of the detachable connection elements (Fig. 1 left and right). The posts in FIG. 1 represent the mean values ​​and the maximum values ​​of the measured force (tensile force) for the upper and lower strip-like detachable connections in each case.

It can be seen that in both types of movement conditions, i.e. squatting and walking, both in the case of greater and lesser pressure of the diaper on the user's body, the forces in the fasteners measured in the upper area, i.e. in the hip area, are smaller than the forces in the elements. fasteners measured in the lower area, which is the area away from the hip line.

The tensile forces were measured in such a way that the tape elements of the detachable connections were each equipped with elongated straps, which acted as tensile force sensors.

FIG. 2 shows the results of further measurements of the tensile forces in the area of ​​the detachable connection members of an adult diaper, the mean value and the maximum value of a number of measurements under various practical conditions being shown as before. When simulating these movement conditions by self-moving patients, various movement conditions were taken into account, for example walking on flat ground, climbing stairs, bowing, squatting, bending, lying down, sliding, standing up. Practical situations such as bending one or two legs, raising the part of the hospital bed for the lower or upper part of the patient's body, turning the patient in a horizontal position, were taken into account when simulating the movement conditions by patients who do not stand up, requiring nursing care, and who are most often transported in the supine position. side by 30 °, 60 °, 90 °, or 135 ° and returning to the starting position, performing a bedding change for a lying patient. The individual bars show the average value and the maximum value, as before

PL 193 313B1 for the upper (near the hip line) and for the lower (distant from the hip line) element of the detachable connection, additionally taking into account the distinction between the above-mentioned types of build of users, namely fat and thin persons. In this case too, the measurement results clearly show that the fasteners in the lower area, i.e. in the area remote from the hip line, are more stressed than the fasteners in the upper area, i.e. in the hip area.

Figure 3 shows schematically a diaper 2 having a rear portion 4, a front portion 6 and a center portion 8 arranged therebetween in the crotch region, as well as longitudinal side edges 10, 12 of the front portion 6 and rear portion 4, and transverse hip edges 14, 16. there is also a relatively narrow absorbent body 17. In areas 18, 20 adjacent to the longitudinal side edges of each side area 22, 23 of the rear portion 4 are disposed: the hip link 24 and the link 26 distant from the hip, spaced apart by a distance h of 105 mm, seated and folded over the visible side of the diaper 2 They can be folded outwards and then extend beyond the longitudinal side edges 10, 12, parallel to the transverse axis 28 of the diaper 2. They can optionally be placed completely inside the side areas 22, 23. Perpendicular to the transverse axis 28 of the diaper 2 is the longitudinal axis 30 of the diaper 2.

The schematically illustrated fasteners 24, 26 can be elements of an adhesive or mechanical connection (in the form of "Velcro"). They are made in particular of longitudinally or transversely fed endless lengths of tape, cut in place and attached to the back part 4 of the diaper 2.

In the embodiment shown (Fig. 3) of the diaper according to the invention, the surface of the flat links 24, 26 is entirely the active surface, i.e. it is entirely an adhesive coating, possibly supplemented by a gripping area, the area of ​​the fastener 26 distant from the hip line is larger than the area of ​​the fastener 24 closer to the hip line. This results, in particular for functionally identical fasteners, that in an embodiment according to the invention, the adhesive connection of a coupling connector 26 remote from the hip line is stronger, the disengagement of which requires a greater force than in the case of a hip-line fastener 24. This adhesive connection begins to "function" when the diaper 2 is placed on the patient's body and the fasteners 24, 26 are applied and pressed against them against the mating contact surfaces 32, 34 located in the front portion 6 of the diaper. The contact surfaces 32, 34 preferably have the same surface structure and can be provided, in particular on the back surface of the layered material of the diaper, for example in the form of a foil layer made of polyethylene or polypropylene. It is also possible to use the material in the form of a layer acting on the surface of the diaper that acts like "Velcro". It is very important to pre-prepare a suitable primer for the contact surface. If the links 24, 26 and the mating contact surfaces 32, 34 have the same structure in functional terms, then - as in the illustrated embodiment - the larger area of ​​the link 26 spaced from the hip line requires a greater peel force. In the solution according to the invention, in the areas where higher loads occur, i.e. for the connector 26 distant from the hipline, the connector and / or its active surface were appropriately enlarged, while the surface of the connector proximal to the hipline or its active surface was reduced. At the same time, a suitable starting material for meeting the requirements can be optimally selected. However, the differentiation in the peel force of the fasteners proposed in the solution according to the invention may be obtained or assisted in other ways than by differentiating the surfaces of the fasteners or by differentiating the surfaces of their active areas. For example, it is possible that a different, more adhesive coating is provided for the fasteners distant from the hipline, or that a more adhesive fastener and / or a mating interface are provided.

The detachable force between the link 26 remote from the hipline and the mating contact surface 34 may be defined by the amount of the peel force, i.e., the shear force, measured during the tear test. Figure 4 shows an apparatus and a flow chart for carrying out such a test, with which the tearing force of the tape acting as a fastener can be determined from the support pad. The peel force is defined as the shear force measured at the tear device. This may be a tensile test fixture 40 according to EN ISO 527-1 (April 1996), equipped with a fixed clamp 42 and a movable clamp 44, intended to hold the test pad 46 and the seam tape 48.

PL 193 313B1

The test preparation consists in depositing a test pad 46 with a width of 55 mm on a steel plate 50 with a width of 55 mm by means of double-sided adhesive tape 52. As a test support, a known film length is used for the backsheet of the diaper, for example in the form of a polyethylene film with a thickness of 21 mm, cut transversely to the direction of travel.

The coupling strip 48, serving as a fastener, is secured between its legs by means of a trough fastening strip. The outer surface 56 of the bonding tape has an adhesive layer with an area weight of 38 g / m2² ± 4 g / m². A known hot melt adhesive containing isoprene-styrene copolymer is used as the adhesive layer. The fastener strip 48 is mounted on a test bed 46 (Fig. 4) and is rolled under a pressure of 2.0 kg in an automated rolling mill at a speed of 300 mm / min and thus tightened (a Viehoever RDG-002- type rolling mill can be used for this purpose). 291).

A short length of a tensioned joint consisting of a steel plate 50, adhesive tape 52 and a test pad 46 is secured in the tear device clamp 42, and the mounting tray 54 is secured in the clamp 44. At an angle of 0 °, i.e. in the plane of the joint, the movable clamp 44 is moved away from the stationary clamp 42 at a speed of 300 mm / min. During this time, the tensile force between the two clamps is measured in newtons (rounded to two decimal places). The width of the sample is 29 mm. The measurement values ​​given below are in each case average values ​​of six measurements, the different active joint surfaces being selected as shown in the attached tables. The width of the seam tape 48 used, parallel to the transverse axis 28 of the diaper 2, is 29 mm during all measurements. When given as length, the variable size of the sample is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the diaper in the diaper. As shown in the right column of the table, the ratio of the length, in the direction of the longitudinal axis 30 of the diaper, of the fastener 24 located near the hip line (upper belt) to the length of the fastener 26 distant from the hip line (lower belt) is 1.2 to 2. , 0. This also applies, respectively, to the size ratio of the adhesive active surfaces. Almost the same ratio was also obtained for the measured shear forces, deciding about the peel force, i.e. about the burst force - the force causing the connection to break.

The discussed test method allows to compare the tear-off forces of fasteners, which are a function of the maximum shear forces directed at an angle of 0 °, i.e. in the connection plane, for different locations of fasteners.